Modern Jazz as the Basis of a New Pop Aesthetics

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the role of modern jazz as a leading factor in the formation of a new pop aesthetics, which reflects the change in artistic guidelines, stylistic priorities and means of musical expression in current forms of pop art. Research methodology. The interdisciplinary nature of the research is manifested in the combination of methodological approaches and analytical tools from several related fields of knowledge: art history and musicology – in the analysis of stylistics, form, harmonic language, improvisational techniques of modern jazz; cultural studies – in the consideration of modern jazz as a cultural phenomenon, a carrier of new aesthetic strategies. A comprehensive approach was applied, which includes methods of comparative analysis, stylistic and genre generalisation, historical and cultural analysis. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the attempt to conceptualise modern jazz not only as a genre, but as a platform for rethinking the aesthetic principles of pop creativity in the conditions of the postmodern cultural space. Conclusions. In the 21st century, jazz has transformed from an elitist genre into an open stylistic space that actively interacts with pop music, electronics, hip-hop, R&B and folklore. On the stage, it has become a laboratory for experiments with sound, rhythm and form. A special role in this process is played by nu-jazz – an inter-genre phenomenon that combines the complexity of jazz harmony with the rhythms and aesthetics of the digital era. Nu-jazz, as one of the leading varieties of modern jazz, represents the philosophy of openness and improvisation, transforming classical patterns into an electronic context. Thanks to nu-jazz, jazz thinking has penetrated mass culture – from TikTok to festivals, from club performances to television shows. On the stage, neo-jazz features become markers of a new musical quality. The use of jazz techniques, such as complex harmony, swing rhythms, and vocal improvisation, which, in particular, indicates the high musical skill of modern performers.